Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Admissions Overview
The Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science participates in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS). Students seeking admission to the DPT program must apply via http://www.ptcas.org.
The deadline for review of all completed applications is November 1st. We are unable to review incomplete applications or applications that have not been verified with PTCAS. All applications must be submitted by November 1st.
The Admissions committee will make one of three decisions for each applicant: 1) acceptance; 2) placement on the waitlist (after January 15th); or 3) denial. Applicants are notified via email, so please be sure the email you enter in PTCAS is accurate and checked often.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to APPLY AND SUBMIT ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE NOVEMBER 1st DEADLINE. This will provide sufficient time to review your materials and determine your eligibility for the required group interview.
Prerequisite Courses
Prospective students may submit an application while enrolled in prerequisite courses, but all courses must be completed prior to starting the DPT program. Grades of C- (C minus) and below cannot be used to satisfy the requirements for admission.
Where possible, we will accept spring and summer 2020 coursework that is graded on a Pass/Fail or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis to fulfill a prerequisite course requirement, particularly if the applicant was not given the choice to take the course on this basis. We may, however, require proof from applicants that they were not offered the choice of receiving a letter grade.
Credit hours must have been earned in colleges or universities whose names appear on the current list of Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education. Students who have completed coursework in Maryland may review transfer courses at ARTSYS – Articulation System for Maryland Colleges and Universities (opens in a new tab).
Course content: Must include skeletal and muscular systems of the human body. Must be Human Anatomy; Plant and Animal Anatomy will not be accepted.
Course content: Must cover various systems including: cardiovascular, endocrine, respiratory, etc. Exercise Physiology will not be accepted.
Course content: Any biology course taken in addition to Anatomy and Physiology. Botany and Zoology will not be accepted.
Course content: Chemistry I must cover atomic and molecular structure. Chemistry II must be an advanced course taken in addition to Chemistry I. Acceptable topics include Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, etc.
Course content: Both calculus-based and non-calculus-based courses are acceptable.
Course content: Abnormal or Developmental Psychology is recommended. Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology is also accepted.
Course content: Any Sociology, Anthropology, etc., course with a core focus on human behavior; alternatively, any Psychology course taken in addition to the Psychology prerequisite.
Course content: Must include mean, median, mode, standard deviation, t-tests, etc.
Advanced Placement (AP) and CLEP
AP or CLEP credits must appear in PTCAS. If used to fulfill prerequisite courses, official scores must be mailed to PTRS. AP SCORE CODE: 7784.
Application Requirements
Degree Requirements
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree (in any field) or expect to graduate prior to enrollment. Credit hours must be earned in institutions listed in the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (opens in a new tab).
Minimum GPA Requirements for Eligibility
Program-specific Prerequisite GPA: 3.0 minimum.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Official score reports must be sent directly from the ETS website (opens in a new tab).
- PTRS Department Code: 1089
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Required for individuals who do not speak English as their primary language. Minimum required score: 100.
- TOEFL scores are valid for two years.
- University Institution Code: 5848 | PTRS Department Code: 48
For waiver requests, contact ptadmissions@som.umaryland.edu.
Letters of Recommendation
Three letters are required (letters from friends or family are not accepted):
- Academic Letter: From a professor/instructor who can speak to your academic performance and curiosity.
- PT Professional Letter: From a licensed physical therapist who directly observed or supervised you.
- Additional Letter: From a supervisor, employer, coach, or mentor. Can also be a second Academic or PT letter.
Physical Therapy Observation
A minimum of 50 hours is required at matriculation. Observation in 2–3 different clinical settings is strongly encouraged.
Current CPR Certification
Must include infant, child, and adult resuscitation and remain active throughout enrollment. Solely web-based courses are not accepted.
- Acceptable Programs: AHA Basic Life Support or Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support for Healthcare Providers.
- Format: Hybrid formats (online instruction + in-person testing) are required.
Application Deadline
When to Apply
The application for the current 2024-2025 admissions cycle is accessible through PTCAS. The deadline to submit your application to be reviewed for admission to the program for May 2025 is November 1st.
Offers of admissions will begin mid-November and continue until the class is full. All applicants will receive a final decision (acceptance, denial or waitlist) by January 15th.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply and submit ALL required documents well in advance of the November 1 deadline.
Right to Appeal
All applicants have the right to appeal an admissions decision. Your appeal should be in writing and addressed to the following:
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
Attention: Director for Academic Affairs for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program
100 Penn Street, Suite 115
Baltimore, MD 21201